Fire Crews Battle Vegetation Fire In Thousand Palms

Seventy-five Riverside County firefighters were on the scene of a vegetation fire in Thousand Palms near the Sky Valley border Friday evening, which sent a plume of smoke so high many in the Coachella Valley could see it.

The fire was burning a 100-foot-by-100-foot section of palm trees at Canyon Road and Dillon Road near the Coachella Preserve, according to Cheri Patterson with the Riverside County Fire Department. Fire crews said it had the potential to grow to 10 acres.

Cal Fire and the Bureau of Land Management are now in a unified command over tackling the fire.

The fire is burning so bright in the night sky, one viewer who called News Channel 3 thought a plane had crashed.

Five engines with 32 firefighters were dispatched to the scene at 3;32 p.m. and more were added as the fight continued. One firefighter is assessing the situation flying overhead. So far, there were no evacuation plans.

Meantime, News Channel 3 viewers alerted us to how bad the smoke was through Newsline 3. We thank you!

Stay with News Channel 3 and KESQ.com for the latest.